Maybe your roommate borrowed your favorite skirt and spilled juice on it. Maybe you just got a disappointing grade. Whatever happened, you're stressed out and don't know what to do about it. The next time you're climbing the walls over a stressful situation, try one of the following tips.

1. Talk About It.
Call your mother, call a friend, go down the hall and knock on your R.A.'s door — that's what he's there for. If you have a knot in your stomach over something, you will feel it loosen if you let out what's bothering you. Reach out to someone who understands you and let them know that you are feeling stress and need to talk about it. When someone who cares about you lends an understanding ear, you'll immediately feel better than being stressed out and alone with your bad feelings. In addition, talking to someone outside of your situation can help because the other person can offer perspectives on whatever's stressing you out that you're too stressed to see. Maybe it's not as bad as you think it is, and/or maybe your friend can help you think of ways to deal with what's bothering you that have not yet occurred to you.

2. Go To The Gym.
If you're not big on talking, get physical. Stress is a mental condition, but it affects you physically as well. An intense workout like going for a run or taking a kickboxing class will help in several ways. Because you're focusing on the activity, it will take your mind off what's bothering you. And, better still, while you're focusing on the activity, it is making you feel better. By exercising, you get rid of the stress hormones in your body; the muscles you might not even realize you've been clenching will relax, and best of all, your body will release endorphins that will make you feel better.

3. Ask for Academic Help When You Need it
if your stress stems from an academic problem, go get help. If you just got a bad grade, maybe the last person you want to see is your professor, but that's who you should talk to. Cool off, and drop by office hours to see what you can do to make sure you don't get a bad grade next time around.

If it's not a bad grade that's bothering you, but your problem is academic in nature, that's almost a good thing. Go take care of it before you get a bad grade. Talk to a friend whose expert in the subject that's troubling you, or email your professor with questions or a request to meet to clarify the coursework.

4. Do Something Fun
if you're having a bad day, grab a friend and go to a movie, go for a walk, or grab a coffee. Do something that you like to do.

5. Make A Counseling Appointment
If you have tried everything that you can think of to make yourself feel less stressed out, and the stress hasn't abated, consider making an appointment at the counseling center. Some stress for college students is natural, but if you are miserable for days at a time, you should know you don't have to feel that way. Talking to someone in the counseling center doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you; it just means you're smart enough to acknowledge that something's not right and you're taking steps to fix it.

Networking is a critical part of life, but it is often a very misunderstood practice. Networking is not the process of collecting contacts who can help you out at some future point in time. If this selfish supposition is your stating point, then your network is not likely to grow or maintain itself as a solid support system. True networking is based on balanced exchanges, mutual respect and genuine fondness. Forging real, long-lasting bonds with people is the key to effective networking.

Here are some tips for networking successfully in college:

1. Office hours are almost as important as lectures.

If you think that officer hours are a waste of your time, you’re a fool. Some of the long-term bonds you can form will be created in the offices of your professors. Get to know these welcoming men and women. Talk about the course material, their research or your career interests. Ask for advice. Be respectful and courteous, and recognize that your professors don’t have a lot of time.

A majority of professors love interested and engaging students. Think about how many disinterested bodies they have to try and teach. If you enter office hours with genuine enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge, you will soon discover that most of your professors are friendly and helpful. Once you have created a working friendship, you’ll have an ally in your field of study who will be there for you for the rest of your life. Don’t forget to keep in touch when you leave.

2. Section is a time to make allies.

Section can be grueling, especially if the discussion grows stagnant with repetition, soap-box speeches and general nonsense. When you witness something stupid, like say, a person professing their undying devotion to 19th century proletariat revolution, look around the room. See who else is rolling their eyes along with you. Find like minded, intelligent classmates and target them for friendship.

3. Get to know your roommates, housemates and neighbors

Familiarize yourself with the people around you. Be your own person, but don’t be anti-social. Talk to people. Find out their likes and dislikes. Develop relationships with people you respect, and shy away from associations with distracting, unfocused party mongers. Unless of course, your interests happen to coincide with these people. 4. Be social when it comes to hobbies, interests and events.

Meet people who share your interests. Join a club, find a study group or start a band. Connect with others who share your unique set of likes and dislikes.

5. Don’t be a jerk to anyone.

Don’t be a chump in section. Don’t try to embarrass people. Keep it civil with your roommate. Just don’t cause too much drama—your network will be better as a result.

Remember, don’t have the mindset of “how can this person help me in the future.” Your network should consist of friends and colleagues that you generally respect and would help out in any situation. The feeling should also be mutual. Don’t coddle a bitter professor just because he’s got a name that would look nice at the bottom of your letter of recommendation to grad school. Don’t associate with kids you don’t like. Create real relationships based on trust and mutual admiration. That’s how you build a large network of real friends who would do anything to help you out, and would expect the same type of assistance from you.

Depending on the college your enrolled in going Greek may be anything from a major lifestyle change to few extracurricular activities. It makes a difference what kind of a presence Greek life has in your school as to whether or not it is right for you.More prevalent in the south, some northern fraternities and sororities are simply small clubs that gather for occasional parties and get togethers. It may make you somewhat of an oddity to join one if they don't have a persuasive effect in the schools social and academic scene. There are benefits, however, to living the Greek life in a school that has a powerful Greek presence.

This is not to say that smaller schools have no prevalent Greek life. It may be the only choice to have any social life at all. Larger schools with bigger student populations offer other possibilities for friendship and outside school activities. Variations in Greek life are so wide it is best to consider the most basic pros and cons and then apply them to your own situation.

Housing is most often a big pro in the Greek life. Rushing (or joining) a fraternity or sorority can provide you with a large dorm house full of all the comforts of home. While not all schools have housing for the frats it can be a great alternative to dorm rooms. You share housework and responsibilities with your house brothers or sisters and get a general feeling of family that is hard to find away from home.

The Greek system has established itself to build better people through athletics, leadership building activities, community service, scholarship and most widely publicized – social life. They spend as much or more time on charity and community events as on socializing and partying. Membership in Greek organizations offers students opportunities to develop strong leadership potential by heading up various charitable projects for school and community. Membership can also provide students with lifetime friendships and future professional connections because Greeks have a reputation of staying loyal for years after graduation.

The Greek system offers fantastic ways to help students in their academic careers. A major goal of Greek life is to help and encourage pledges and members in achieving their absolute highest academic potential. Greek organizations give academic support programs such as national and local scholarships and grants, personal incentives and awards, workshops, tutoring and study sessions.
The social life of Greeks has been widely publicized in movies like Animal House, and although it's not all fun and games there is a fair amount of fun. Greeks are active in their schools and communities and never have a drought of events to attend.

Consider your alternatives and the presence and character of the Greek life in your school before rushing a fraternity or sorority. But chances are, you'll find something you like.

College is all about personal preference. You need to pick the school that’s right for you and nobody else but you. If you have a particular university that’s high on your list, there are certain measures you can take that will improve the likelihood of you getting accepted.

Here are five tips that’ll help you get into the college of your choice.

1. Have good grades and test scores

To make the first cut, you got to have the numbers. Most universities start sifting through applicants based on minimum GPA and test score requirements. These requirements can be found in publications that rank different programs, and you can also find these minimum figures on the admissions page of your prospective college’s website. If your GPA is less than stellar, then you need to compensate with high tests scores. If your standardized test scores are below the minimum requirements, then you’ll have to pick up the slack with excellent grades.

2. Write an award winning personal essay

The personal essay is the most customizable part of your application. It tells the admissions office who you are as a person, how well you can communicate and what you will bring to the table as a potential student. Tout your successes in your essay, and use the essay as a forum to explain any anomalies in your application. Whatever you choose to write on, make sure you have a tightly organized, well-argued composition that avoids clichés and sounds original.

3. Send in quality letters of recommendation

Don’t underestimate the impact of quality letters of recommendation. If you know a teacher who would gladly take a bullet for you, then have them voice their enthusiasm in a written letter. Follow carefully when including your letters of recommendation. Some colleges require letter writers to fall under specific categories (i.e. your letter must be written by someone who has taught you in the past year). Try to collect praise from multiple enthusiastic sources, so that you appear like a well rounded student. Letters of recommendation can also be written by employers, coaches or religious leaders.

4. Don’t slack off in high school

Your high school performance, both in and out of the classroom, are vital to your application’s success. You need to have plenty of extracurricular activities, but you also need to illustrate dedication, leadership, responsibility and achievement. It’s better to excel at a few things than try and overload your schedule with fleeting tasks. Be sure to explain why you chose a specific activity, and what benefits you derived from it.

5. Apply early, and if you don’t get in at first, appeal the decision or plan to transfer

Applying early can increase your chances of getting in. Don’t wait until a day before your deadline; send your application materials in as soon as possible. There are more spots and fewer applicants at the beginning of the admission process. As the deadline draws closer, there are more applicants and few spots to fill. If you don’t get in to the school of your choice, then consider appealing the decision. If that doesn’t work, you can always go to a junior college, complete your general education requirements and the transfer in two years.

If you plan ahead and dedicate yourself to achieving your goals, then there’s nothing to prevent you from getting into the college of your choice. Whether you succeed or fail is entirely up to you.

When you first get to college, you will be in a period of transition. You’ll have to adjust to a new environment, new living situation, new people and new priorities. Adjusting will take a little time, but you’ll settle into your new surroundings before you know it.

Here are five tips to help you cope with your new college environment.

1. Find allies
Find people who are intelligent, hard working and fun, and associate with them frequently. It’s never too early to start building your support network. Seek out people who share your interests and priorities. Mix it up. Find study buddies and party people. The more reliable acquaintances you have, the easier it’ll be to cope with your new situation.

2. Befriend your professors
Don’t adopt an adversarial take on your professors. These people are here to help you, so take advantage of it. When you meet with your professors during office hours, you’ll have an easier time getting through your courses. You could even form a lasting bond with your instructors. The more professors you know in your department, the better your overall performance in your major will be. Once you have completed your studies, these people will be deciding whether or not you are worthy of honors recognition. If everyone’s already your pal, then you’re much more likely to be recognized as a stand out student.

3. Play hard and work even harder
You can’t just study for weeks at a time without a break, and you can’t party every single night without getting your work done. Find a happy medium between social and scholastic obligations. Discover the balance that’s right for you.

4. Keep in touch with family and friends
Just because you moved away from home, it doesn’t mean that you have to break off all ties with your friends and family. Keep in touch. Call people. Write emails. Update your status with the people who care about you. You can still assimilate into college life, but you’ll have open channels of communication with your loved ones back home.

5. Learn campus geography
Get to know your way around campus. Learn short cuts so that you can get to your classes on time. Scope out quiet places to work, and locate spots where you can have some fun. The sooner you familiarize yourself with your surroundings, the more quickly you’ll feel comfortable in your new environment. Also be sure that you know you’re way around the town or city that your college is located in.

College is a new experience, but you can handle it. Cope by making connections with your colleagues and professors. Find the right balance between having fun and getting work done. Keep in touch with the people you love, and learn your new surroundings. Before you know it, you’ll be totally adjusted to your new life on campus.

1. Go to class
Show up to your lectures and sections. Participate in class discussions. Absorb all the information that you are supposed to, and don’t let absences create gaps in your knowledge. If you miss one lecture in your global history course, you’re going to always wonder just exactly how humanity formed the ability to speak. You’ll go from caveman to the cradle of civilization, without knowing what happened in between.

2. Take insanely good notes
Take pride in taking high-quality notes. Write everything down, even if you already know the material. If another student asks a question, make a note of it, and include your professor’s response. Think of yourself as a court reporter, with you notebook being the stenography machine. Record everything that goes down and you’ll learn more. You’ll have a written record of all your class proceedings. You’ll be able to retain information longer because you have to write it down physically as you process the info mentally. You’ll be better prepared for tests and assignments, and you’ll never get bored (or at least you’ll be less bored than your classmates, because your too busy writing everything down).

3. Do your work
You’ll have an easier time studying if you’ve done all your work the way you’re supposed to. When you study for a test, you’re supposed to be reviewing things that you already know, not teaching yourself material for the first time. Get your assignments turned in on time and do all of your reading. The more familiar you are with your material, the easier it will be to analyze and apply what you have learned in tests and assignment situations.

4. Ask questions
If you need further clarification, get it. Ask questions during lecture. Meet with your professors during their office hours. Share knowledge with other students and pool together your combined know-how. Debate people. Always ask for more info when you need to.

5. Manage your time wisely
Don’t party too hard. Prioritize your social commitments and your scholastic obligations. Find balance, and be in control of every moment of the day. Make to do lists. Schedule in free time, and realize that your time in college is limited. Take advantage of it while you can.

If you just to what you know you’re supposed to do, you’ll succeed in college. The best study habits are the ones that work. So find out what works for you, and stick to it.

Have you started applying for your scholarship yet? No? WHY NOT!?! This is free money for your education. Following these quick and easy steps will help make this process painless.

First, Eliminate the Scholarships That Don’t Apply To You
There are many scholarships available for people who want to attend college. The most practical approach to winning the money you need or want to go to school is to do some research and figure out the scholarships for which you’re eligible. Because of the overwhelming amount of scholarships out there, you will save yourself a lot of time and potentially wasted effort if you identify at the outset of your process which scholarships just don’t apply to you.

Next, Make A List of the Scholarships That You Are Most Likely To Receive
Once you’ve eliminated the list of scholarships that have nothing to do with you, you’ll probably see that the amount of scholarships is still pretty large. Of course, this is basically good news, but if you are eligible for a very large number, the clock might run out on you before you have a chance to apply to them all. To mitigate this possibility, take your research skills in a different direction by learning about the scholarships you could apply to and prioritizing the ones that you most would like to receive, and/or have the best chance of receiving.

Look Around — Are There Experts Available To You Who Can Help You In Your Quest?
The above tasks may sound daunting. Before you get too overwhelmed, ask yourself if there is someone who could help you make sense of all of the scholarships. If you are still in high school, before you do anything, you should make an appointment with your guidance counselor and let him or her help you figure out which scholarships might be the best for you, as well as which ones you are the likeliest to be awarded. If you’ve been out of high school for a while and are looking to get that college degree, chances are there’s someone in your current circle of friends, maybe someone who’s already been to college and been through this, who can help you cut through all the paperwork to get to the scholarships that are best for you.

Don’t Forget The Internet When It Comes To Tracking Down Scholarships
There are a number of Web resources at your disposal to aid you in your search for money for college. For example, Fastweb.com is a very popular site devoted to helping people match them up with scholarships for which they’re eligible. A great feature of a site like Fastweb.com is that once you enter your profile information on the site, it will e-mail you with news about upcoming scholarship deadlines.

And of course, regardless of how you find out about your scholarships, as soon as you determine which ones you’ll go after, the most important thing is to request the application materials and complete them as soon as possible.

You found the perfect loan combination for your higher education costs. The federal government and private entities have been loaning people tuition money for so many decades now that the process can be smooth sailing.

But you might be asking yourself, what happens if I’m late on a payment? Will there be financial penalties or even worse, criminal penalties? Will all my hard work be for naught? Will banks and the government forever dog me?

If you are thinking this, congratulations  you’re obviously a responsible human being. Repaying a student loan is not optional  it’s absolutely required, just like a car loan, or a housing mortgage or any other loan.

And first things first: missing a payment or two is serious, but it’s not like defaulting on the entire loan  which we’ll get into in a minute.

The term your lender will use when you are late on a payment  usually defined as more than 90 days late  is delinquent. Once this occurs, you will be reported to national credit bureaus, which can have a negative impact on your credit rating.

270 days is the average length of time for which to be late on your payments to be considered in default. After this, the holder of the loan assumes you don’t intend to repay it, and the default will stay on your credit report for 7 years. If this happens, it will be incredibly difficult to get car loans, credit cards, or financing for a home or renting an apartment.

Of course, there are a couple of intermediary steps that can happen if you’re late on a loan payment. Almost all loans provide the opportunity to discuss your particular issues with a loan officer to work out a solution.

This is also true if you have sent in your payment and it has not shown up on your new statement for some reason, or the amount charged on your current statement does not match up what your understanding of the payment amount should be.

The point is, these are the times when you should contact your loan officer immediately. The loan company has no way of knowing your personal situation unless you tell them directly, and they will certainly not give you the benefit of guessing you’re having an issue or a hard time coming up with the money.

The loan officer or student account counselor will more than likely work with you to formulate a repayment plan that you are able to handle in order not to continue any delinquencies and go into default.

Very often payments that are made, but made late, will incur a late payment fee, and finance charges on the balance, which are frequently higher than the normal interest rate set on the loan.

In addition to the above late payment charges, finance charges or even collection fees, your college or university could put you on a financial freeze if the loan is made through a school affiliate lending program, or your private loan money has not been received by the school for tuition.

A freeze can prevent you from collecting your degree or registering for classes. Your student services (like health care) could also be put on hold.

Again, you will need to make an appointment with your loan officer, who can help you reformulate your payment amount and terms, help you become eligible for a loan deferment, consolidation or even a forbearance  options which allow you to temporarily reduce or postpone your payments.

Choosing a college can be very taxing on your nerves. The decision will flavor the rest of your educational and professional development. Selecting a college is not something to be taken lightly, but making solid judgment calls requires clear thinking. You cannot fill your mind with stress and anxiety, or you will impair your ability to make a sound decision.

Just relax. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay, there’s really no need to freak out. Here are five tips that’ll help make your college decision a little bit easier.

1. The choice is entirely up to you.
You can’t choose a college t please someone. Your family may want you to go to a certain institution. Your friends may all be requesting your presence at this or that university. Everyone will have more than two-cent worth of advice to give you when you make this decision, but the choice is yours and yours alone. You are in control. You have the first and final say. Consider the opinions of others, then let go of all the advice and just follow your heart.

2. Apply to multiple universities.
You have to keep your options open. This means filling out multiple applications to different types of universities. You should have picks that you know are a sure thing. These safe bets are your fall-back plans. Apply to a few schools where you think you have a chance to be accepted, and apply to at least one or two schools that are an absolute stretch. These reaching options may surprise you. You can’t rule out the impossible when applying to college, so be sure you have enough options to account for every contingency.

3. Explore course offerings outside your major.
You have to match up your college choices with your intended area of study. Rule out any place that doesn’t have your major, but don’t stop there. While you are in school, there are classes outside of your major that you are going to want to take. Want to take one class in video editing? Don’t choose a college based on the availability of one elective, but don’t assume that the courses in your major are all you will ever be interested in. The more you know about the entire course catalog of the college you’re considering, the easier it’ll be to compare and contrast the curriculum of different universities.

4. Talk to people.
Ask as many questions from as many qualified people as possible. Find out what alumni and current students have to say. Consult with counselors, academic advisors and faculty members. Don’t let one person’s opinion make the decision for you. Take the opinions of others and balance them with your own observations.

5. Worst case scenario you can always transfer!
While nothing can seem as final as your final college selection, the truth of the matter is you always have options, even once you’ve already started taking classes at your new university. If you absolutely hate life at the school you chose, you can always transfer somewhere else after two years. Make sure that you that you’ve put forth every possible effort to make it work before you decide to transfer. If after careful deliberation, you still decide that you want to bail, by all means do so. College is an opportunity, not a sentence. If your school of choice isn’t working out the way you envisioned, change your scenery.

If you chill out, you’ll be in a better position to make an important decision. Just do your homework, keep your options open and explore. In the end, you’ll know what to do. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but don’t let anyone else decide your future for you.

1. Learn
Learn. Learn as much as you can. For many people, college is the last time in their lives when academics take center stage. This might sound great if you’re in the midst of cramming for the SAT or working on your admissions essay, but paying attention to your academics in college will be rewarding in many ways. If you’re not a "learning is its own reward" person, focus on the fact that the more you learn, and the better you do in school, the better your chances are of securing a great job down the road. In some careers, you may even end up providing a transcript as part of your job application. So think twice before cutting class.

2. Meet people
a lot of people say that they learned more from the students around them than they did from any of their classes. Whether or not this turns out to be true for you, another aspect of college that makes it an once-in-a-lifetime experience is the community of people you’ll be living with. Take the opportunity to get to know about people from different parts of the world.

3. Take risks
Whether it’s going abroad for a semester, or taking skydiving lessons, do something outside your comfort zone during college. You need something for the stories you’ll tell in the future about your days as a crazy college student, right? And beyond the potential for spinning a good yarn, taking the opportunity to do something that seems unlike the you in high school may teach you that there’s more to you than even you knew.

4. Prepare for the future
While you should invest as much as possible of yourself in the present moment of your college experience, you should also give some thought to what you’ll do on the other side of the graduation platform. Visit the career services office. Talk to a favorite professor about how he chose his career at your age. Get a couple of internships during your time at school. You might find something you love during an internship, which could lead to a job down the road. Or, you might find that what you thought you’d love is really not for you. Either way, it’s good information to have.

5 Take care of your health
No, this doesn’t mean sit inside on Friday night and do nothing but eat broccoli, but it’s easy to lose perspective on taking care of yourself in the intensity that is undergraduate life. There is so much you need to do, and so much you want to do that sleep and nutrition might not even come up as priorities for you. But you can’t do anything if you get the flu or mono, so balance your flurry of activity with some solid sleep and nutrition.